Will city residents pay $100 per over two years to help support a major downtown Salem revitalization?

Comments

Mtlhed

That's ok Watchdog, don't feel to bad. Although part of it can be put on the condition of Salem or other local indicators, I think mainly it's human nature. We've always heard the saying that once you leave home you can never return except to visit. I think there's alot of truth to that old saying.

WatchDog

WatchDog

questioner sez: "Is it true that Mr. Cahill, when asked what happens if we put the money into this and it fails, said then he would pack and move on?"

Why does that not surprise me? That is why you can not trust this type of investment into his hands. If he had been serious and was a true leader he would have shot back quickly by saying...I will not see it fail and I will do everything in my power to see it completed to the fullest to ensure that it is successful to the tax payers of this City.

GrantMingus

Forbes also calls Youngstown one of the best places to raise a family. I don't disagree with some of the surrounding area, but they cite Youngstown specifically. I don't put much stock into what they say. There are pros and cons about living and working EVERYWHERE--it's really just up to what you want to do for a living.

concerned

Watchdog I agree Mr. Cahill might have some good ideas. The problem in his plan is that he needs to get some private investors in it. It is not the taxpayers responsibility to fund private enterprise. This attitude that government is the Mr. fix it of all our woes, keeps appearing in this country. The government is getting into areas that the founders never intended for the gov. to get into. In fact it was an over bearing gov. that lead to our country coming into existance. Seems some folks want to take us back to the future by always wanting gov. intervention. Find some investors, buy downtown, properties and bring about your vision Mr. Cahill but don't ask the taxpayers to be your partner. I really don't think the majority are interested, just look at the poll results here in the Salem News. That is probably pretty close to what will happen at the ballot box concerning any tax increases to fund your project.

WatchDog

Cahill plan? Where is the plan to go with this plan to make sure these building never look like crap again? There isn't one, like everything else Salem does, wait until it looks like crap then nose dive in to do something with it with a over sized unrealistic plan of gungho kill it. I can guarantee we could invest in this plan right now and 5 years after the plan is done the building will be right back to deteriorating.

WatchDog

I still can't get my head wrapped around this. Salem has all these parks and they do nothing with them...NOTHING but the old boring crap they usually have. I have that parks commission with their uptight rear ends defy more ways of making money than I have ever seen in my life. Then they wonder why the kids in Salem pack up and move out after they graduate. They have the cruise. They still control it. That event alone should be bringing in profits out of this world. It is almost like somebody is afraid to put a little effort into it.

WatchDog

You know what is sad? That jerk Cahill had a couple good ideas, he really did. Then he blew it with this money grab and his attitude. The saddest part about all of this...this project is nothing more than a gamble. 2 million dollar gamble. It will work or it won't work. I haven't seen one thing he has laid out with this plan that will show a return on this investment anyhow. Nothing, except the whim, the buildings will look pretty. Well, pretty on one street don't mean anything if the rest of the city looks like crap. He lives in a dream world that it is going to attract tourists. That is a joke. Salem offers NOTHING to attract tourists. Salem is boring boring boring. This is the 21st century. Times have changed, society has change. When are people going to figure that out? This has stagnant for years. There is not night life. Every thing is controlled, controlled, controlled and the busy bodies of this town are destroying it.

ladybug

Mtlhed

Ladybug, that's easy for you to say. You're probably 5 minutes away from Josies. I have to drive 26 hours to get me a slice. LOL. The only thing I've done in the last 25 years downtown is get a Josies or a Mario's and one of them is likely gone forever. Actually I take that back. I was in BB Rooners a time or 2.

WatchDog

Cahill get your projected 5 year business forecast-ed revenue return plan ready. I want to know your budgets, balances and assets. As a taxpayer and investor into your business, I want to see it. Tell the rest of the business owners to prepare theirs as well. We have a right see our investment profits. All of it.

WatchDog

This is almost hysterically funny. Cahill get your projected 5 business business foretasted return plan ready. I want to know your budgets, balances and assets. As a taxpayer and investor into your business, I want to see it. Tell the rest of the business owners to prepare theirs as well.

WatchDog

Can't wait to see the law on this. City council even so much as falls this bogus attempt to squeeze money out taxpayers for this is going to be comical. They are going to open the doors to legal challenges. This nonsense has to stop.

swager

Why should citizens pay when the city is sitting on big money and already in the drilling unit Roy D? Your city leaders are just playing your lack of knowlegde that they are in fact about to become rich. Their policeis have given you the city they want. Let them rebuild it.

rpmwwe

I'm not necessarily against a revitalization effort but it must been done smartly to get my support. Too many times I have seen city governments (not just Salem) throw good money after bad at obviously dead-end projects. I would want to know exactly what they intend to do, a detailed explanation as to how it will be a good investment and what kind of return the city expects from it, and what the long term plan is to maintain it. If it doesn't add up then forget about it.